Arsenal's victory over West Ham to move fourth in the Premier League was a "statement" and showed "total unity", said manager Mikel Arteta.
Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe helped Arsenal record a deserved 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium.
It comes days after striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy following his "latest disciplinary breach".
"They showed exactly what I expect from them," said Arteta.
"They showed total unity with the team. We are building a project and building a project without the people is impossible.
"They were fully focused.